Akron officials on Friday rolled out a new, hospital-backed effort to keep shooting victims from becoming part of a cycle of revenge. The Partnership for Intervention, Violence Outreach, and Transformation, known as PIVOT, will link trauma patients and their families to bedside counseling, support groups, and outreach workers. City leaders say the goal is to cut off the chain of retaliatory shootings that often follow an initial attack.
According to Cleveland.com, Mayor Shammas Malik formally introduced PIVOT at a Friday press conference and noted that he first floated the idea during his State of the City address last month. The outlet reports that the city is partnering with Summa Health, Cleveland Clinic Akron General, and the Minority Behavioral Health Group to staff bedside therapy and coordinate follow-up services.
Why Officials Say They Moved Now
As reported by News 5 Cleveland, the launch comes on the heels of a spike in shootings this week that left several people injured in neighborhoods, including Highland Square. In response, city leaders have also rolled out short-term measures, including asking bars to close earlier and limiting access to late-night parking lots, as part of a broader attempt to cool down nightlife hotspots.
Recent Violence That Pushed The City To Act
Cleveland19 reported that on June 4, a shooting near Lane Field left a 15-year-old girl injured after she was hit by a vehicle while trying to flee. Investigators later executed a search warrant at a home on the 300 block of Keifer Court. Two juveniles were arrested in connection with the case, and police said firearms were recovered from the residence.
What PIVOT Is Set Up To Do
City officials say PIVOT will offer bedside therapy, support groups, and connections to “credible messengers” who can help calm conflicts and connect victims with services, according to Cleveland.com. Rathna Shenoy, who works in trauma care, told officials that “surgery alone is not enough,” and a survivor advocate said having someone in the hospital to guide families can be especially meaningful in the chaotic hours immediately after a shooting.
Legal Notes
Police have filed weapons-related charges in the Lane Field investigation, including an allegation that a juvenile improperly discharged a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, Cleveland19 reported. Authorities said investigations into the Highland Square shooting remain active and asked the public to share tips as detectives work to identify additional suspects, News 5 Cleveland added.
